Multiple image view finder



June 9, 1936. MlHALY] 2,043,900

MULTIPLE IMAGE VIEW FINDER Filed July 18, 1934 2 ShetS-Sh89t 1 June 9,1936. J. MIHALYI MULTIPLE IMAGE VIEW FINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July18, 1934 Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES MULTIPLE IMIAGE VIEW FINDERJoseph Mihalyi, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company,Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 18, 1934,Serial No. 735,749

4 Claims.

This invention relates to photography, and more particularly to viewfinders for photographic cameras.

One object of my invention is to provide a 5 multiple image view finderwhich can be adjusted for producing the proper field of view for aseries of objectives of different focal lengths. Another object of myinvention is to provide a finder in which the field of view can beadjusted for objectives differing widely in focal length and one inwhich the elements of the finder are all permanently attached to thecamera. Another object of my invention is to provide a view fin'derincluding a plurality of elements, all of which are mounted to fold fiatupon the camera to take up a minimum amount of space and to provide asingle means for simultaneously actuating all of the finder elements.Another object of my invention is to provide a finder in which a negative view finding lens is slidably mounted upon a track for adjustmentto and from a view defining frame to vary the image in the finder forobjectives of normal focal length and for objectives of longer thannormal focal length. Still another object of my invention is to providea finder with at least one element mounted to swing to and from anoperative position so that the field of view can be adjusted for wideangle objectives, and other objects will appear from the followingspecification, the novel features being particularly pointed out at theend thereof.

In hand cameras it is frequently useful to be able to use objectives ofdifferent focal length for producing images of different size from thesame point of view. This is useful both for cameras making singleexposures and for motion picture cameras.

In motion picture cameras of the more recent compact type, it iscomparatively diflicult to pro-- 4.0 vide a view finder which will takecare of the widely varying focal lengths of the objectives commonly usedon such view finders. In the amateur field there are a number of verysmall size cameras for taking pictures on film of a re- 45 duced size onwhich objectives varying from 15 mm. to 6 inches in focal length'arecommonly supplied.

Heretofore it has been necessary to supply with these different focallength objectives, supple- 50 mentary masks which would reduce the sizeor image of the field of view shown in the finder to the properproportions for the particular .objective used. This was not an entirelysatisfactory system because with objectives of long focal 55 length thefield of view would have to be masked down to very small proportions,and it was therefore difficult to pick up the object being photographed.

With a finder constructed in accordance with my invention, the field ofView will at all times 5 be kept as large as possible and at the sametime the lenses forming the objective are so positioned and arrangedthat in the positions in which the elements will give the correct fieldof view for long focal length objectives, even though the 10 field ofview is reduced somewhat, the finder will show a larger area tosupplement the picture area, making it easier to pick up an object beingphotographed. My view finder also is arranged to produce images of afield of view for long focal 15 length objectives much larger than wouldbe produced by the normal view finder masked down with a supplementarymask for the same focal length objective.

Coming now to the drawings wherein like ref- 20 erence characters denotelike parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a camera illustrating and constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail section of a por- 25 tion of the slidablemount for one of the view defining elements.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the finder elements in apartially folded position. 30

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing one of the finder elementsswung into an inoperative position with respect to the others.

Fig. 5 is a schematic View showing the finder elements adjusted for awide angle camera ob- 5 jective.

Fig. 6 is a similar view but with the finder elements adjusted forobjectives of normal focal length.

Fig. 7 is a similar view but with the finder elements adjusted for anobjective of longer than the normal focal length.

Fig.8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a different method ofmounting the slidable finder element.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail section showing the latch for holding thefront finder element in an operative or normal position.

It is obvious that a finder constructed in accordance with my inventionis suitable for any type of photographic camera wherein objectives ofdifferent focal lengths are to be used. However, I have illustrated myinvention as being applied to a small size motion picture camera 55because this is one of the most difficult cameras to equip with amultiple image finder.

Fig. 1 shows a well-known type of socalled amateur size" motion picturecamera which may be utilized for taking motion pictures upon small sizefilm, such as the well known 16 mm. or 8 mm. film. The size of the filmis, of course, entirely immaterial.

The camera may consist of a box or body portion I on the front wall 2 ofwhich an objective, shown broadly as 3, may be positioned. This objective may be carried by a removable lens mount 4 of any well-knowntype and is here shown as being a removable mount of the type shown inPatent 1,736,436, Fuerst, November 19, 1929. I

By removing the lens mount through releasing the latch 5 and turning themount until the studs 6, which hold the mount in position, can passthrough the aperture '|-all as is fully described in the above-mentionedpatentdifl'er ent focal length objectives can be placed on the camera.For cameras of this type it is customary to supply objectives of from15mm. to 6 inches in focal length. Any of these can be attached to thecamera front 2.

On the top wall 8 of the camera, I provide a finder which consists of aplurality of view finding elements. In the showing of Fig. 1 theseelements may consist of a frame 9 mounted on a hinge pintle l0 supportedby a bracket II toward the front of the camera, this frame also carryinglu'gs I2 supporting a .hinge pintle l3 which passes through the frontend of a handle 14. This handle is pivoted at the rear end of the cameraupon a pintle 15, this pintle being formed as a part of a frame l6hinged at H to a bracket iii. A spring leaf l9 may be. used to hold theframe in the erect position shown.

Between the front and rear finder elements, there is a track 20 uponwhich a slide 2| may freely move. Hinged to this slide at 22 is a frame23 carrying a negative lens 24. A spring 25 encircling the hinge pintlenormally holds the frame 23 in an erect position, but permits this frameto fold downwardly toward the camera when the handle I4 is turned in thedirection of the arrow A to swing down the frames 9 and i6.

Frame l6 carries an eye-piece 29 which is a positive or viewing lens. vv

Frame 9 is supported by the hinge pintle l9, and this hinge pintle alsosupports a second frame 21 which carries a positive lens 28. Frame 21 isnormallyheld in-the position shown by means of a latch 29, shown in moredetail in Fig. 9, this latch engaging a flanged edge 39 of the frame 9.Byfreleasing the latch, the positive lens 28 in its-frame can be swungforwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4 in which it is inoperativewith respect to the other finder elements.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the finder elements are shown as beingarranged for a wide angle objective; 15 mm. may, for instance, beconsidered a wide angle objective for the camera illustrated. In thiscase the positive lens 28 is swung downwardly out of its operativeposition with respect to the other lenses-that is, the negative lens 24and the positive lens 26--so that the field of view will be defined bythe opening 39 in the frame 9, the negative lens 24, and the positivelens 26. When adjusted for such wide angle objectives, the positive lens28 must be swung to the position shown in Fig. 4. However,

since the use of wide angle objectives is compara- I tively rare, thisposition of the front frame 9' does not often occur.

When the finder elements are adjusted for objectives of normal focallengths, as is illustrated in Figure 6, the positive lens 28 is swung upin front of the opening 39 in the frame 9 and the negative lens 24 liesclose to this frame on the opposite side thereof. In this position,which is the position for the objectives ordinarily used on the camera,the finder is compact and resembles an ordinary finder, that is, thefinder elements are positioned toward each end of the handle 14, andfrom a side view of the camera the finder would resemble that shown inPatent 1,933,784, Wittel, November 7, 1933, which is a indicated by theframes A, B, and C.

It will be seen that the adjustment for th wide angle objective,indicated at Fig. 5, produces an image A of a wide angle. If a normalfocal length objective is used and the finder is adjusted for it, asmaller portion of the field of view will show in the finder asdisclosed at B. If the finder elements are adjusted for objectives oflonger than normal focal length, as indicated in Fig. 7, a still smallerportion of the field of view will show, as indicated at C. However, whenso adjusted there is a supplemental or additional image indicated in thefinder at D so that an operator can more readily pick out the particularportion of the field that is being photographed, which is that portionwhich lies within the frame E.

A convenient construction for the negative lens 24 which will permit itto slide axially of the other finder elements is shown in the firstthree figures, in which the lens 24 is shown as being carried by a frame23 hingedl'y mounted upon the slide 2| which can move-over the track 20.I

prefer to tension the slide 2|, as indicated in Fig. 2, so as to hold itin a set position. This can be conveniently done by'placing a spring 35between one edge 36 of the slide and an edge 31 of the track 28, thisspring preferably being provided with a rounded portion 38 for fittinginto a notch 40 in the slide and being provided with one end 4| adaptedto engage any one of a number of notches 42 which are spaced apart to indicate convenient focal distances. The opposite end of the spring 43, byresting on the edge 31 of the track, tends to hold the slide in the setposition by friction.

On the top of the track 20 I provide a series of graduations 44 whichmay be in units of the focal lengths of the objectives used. Thesegraduations, when viewed through a window '49 in the top of the slide,indicate to an operator the proper setting of the movable finder elementfor the different objectives used.

If desired, the track 28may be omitted and, as shown in Fig. 8, theframe 23' may be made to slide upon a track 20' on a sliding member 2|.In this case the frame 23' is hinged to a pintle 22' and a spring 25'will hold the frame in. the

. able finder element 24 is positioned forwardly position shown.However, when the handle i4 is turned in the direction shown by thearrow-A to fold the finder against the camera, as son as the finderelement 23 strikes the top of the camera, it will be .swung against theaction of spring ii in the direction shown by the arrow to permit thisfinder element to fold.

It should be particularly noted ,that with a finder constructed inaccordance with my invention, the finder elements are calculated so thatwith objectives of normal focal length the slidagainst the frame 9 sothatthe handle'is accessible throughout its length for carrying thecamera. It is only when objectives of longer than normal focal lengthare in use on the camera that the slidable element 24 is movedrearwardly from the frame towards the positive lens or eyepiece 20. Theusuallong focallength objectives used on such cameras are ordinarily 2or 3 inch objectives, so, that even when used with long focal lengthobjective the slidable element 24 is much closer to the front finderelement than it is to the rear. ,This leaves the handle sufficientlyfree for its normal use, that of carrying the camera.

Irom the foregoing specification it is quite evident that the embodimentof my inventionshown in the drawings and described is by way ofillustration only and that it is entirely immaterial what focal lengthobjectives are used, providing,

of course, they come within the limits of adjust-' .ment of the finderelements.

No detailed specifications have been given for the various lenses goinginto the construction of thisfinder because they will, of course, varywith the size of the image required, the length over all of thegfinder,

- and the variation required for'the various ram length objectives to beused on the camera. The

lens specifications can, however, readily be prepared by one skilled inthe art for the particular purpose for which the variable view finder isto be designed. v

Having now particularly described' my inven-- tion, 'what'I desire to'secure by Letters Patent,

I of the United States and what I claim is:

, for holding the third finder element inan erect I 1. In a variableview finder for cameras, the combination with a pair of hingedlymounted, definitely spaced finder elements including a frame and aneye-"piece, a handle pivotally connected toeach finder element, a trackextending between said finder elements, a slide movable over thetrackintoa plurality of predetermined positions defined by a snap latchon the slide cooperating with notches in the track, athird finderelement hingedly attached to the slide, a spring position thereon, saidhingedly mountedelement being adapted to be moved from its erectposi-ation when en aged by the handle connecting the first two mentionedfinder elements.

2. In a variable view finder 'for cameras, the

definitely spaced finder elements including a tion close to the camerabody and a latch for nected to each finder element, a track extendingbetween said finderelements, a slide movable over the track intoapiurality of predetermined positions defined by a snap latch on theslide cooperating with notches in the track, a third finder elementhingedly attached to the slide, a spring for holding the third finderelement in an erect positiomthereon, said third hingedly mounted finderelement being adapted to be moved fromiits erect position when engagedby the handle connecting the first two mentioned \finder elements, and afourth finder element pivotally attached to the first mentioned finderelement and adapted to move to and from a posiholding said finderelement in an erect tive position.

3. In a variable view finder for cameras, the combination with a pair ofhingediy mounted. definitely spaced finder elements including a frameand an eye-piece, a handle pivotally conoperanected to each finderelement, a track extending between said finder elements, a slide movableover the track into a plurality of predetermined posi- 25 tions definedby a snap latch on the slide cooperating with. notches in the track, athird finder element hingedly attached to the slide, a spring forholding the third finder element in an erect position thereon, saidthird hingedly mounted finder element beiiig'adapted to be moved fromits erect position when engaged by the handle connecting the first twomentioned finder ele-' ments, and a fourth finder element hingedlymounted with the first finder element and adapted to turn upon the hingetoward the camera body in either of two directions, and a latch forholding the, element to the first mentioned finder element to turri uponthe hinge with said first mentioned finder element to and from a folded40 position. a 4. In a variable viewfinder for cameras, the combinationwith a pair of hingedly mounted, definitely spaced finder elementsincluding a frame and an eye-piece, a handle pivotally connected to eachfinder element, a track extending between said finder elements, a slidemovable over the track into a plurality of predetermined positionsdefinedby. a snap latch on the slide cooperating. with notches in thetrack, a third finder element hingedlyattached to theslide, a springforholding the third finder element in an erect position thereon, saidthird hingedly mounted finder elementbelng adapted to be moved'from itserect position when engagedby the handle connectingthe first twomentioned finder elements irrespective of the position of the thirdfinder element slide on. the track, said spring being adapted to erectsaid element to an operative position between the other two finder elem'ments when said handle is used togerect said elements to an operativeposition.

Josnen mum.

